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Rwanda has been identified as country that is highly vulnerable to food shortages during the global food crisis. Sponsorship can help Lionel and his family get the nourishment they need.
I live with my mother and father in the Kigali area. The primary language where I live is Kinyarwanda. My mother and father are sometimes employed as day labourers. I like toy cars. My favourite activity at the centre is spending time with friends. I am not attending school because I am too young.
Lionel's Country Details
Rwanda is a small, landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of central Africa. Its grassy uplands and many hills have given it the nickname “land of a thousand hills.” Most of this country lies above 1200 metres, and the densely forested slopes of the mountains are home to the famous mountain gorillas, as well as many other kinds of wildlife.
Rwanda's population density is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. The people of Rwanda are known as the Banyarwanda and have historically been divided into three groups. The Tutsis (15 per cent) were the traditional ruling class in pre-colonial times, while the Hutus (84 per cent) were mostly agricultural workers. The Twa (1 per cent) are pygmies. The Twa are descended from the earliest inhabitants of Rwanda, while it is unclear whether the Hutus and Tutsis constitute different ethnic groups, with the distinction between them being arbitrarily exacerbated during colonial rule. The current government does not encourage distinction between these groups.
Rwanda has been a unified state for many centuries and is one of the few African countries whose borders were not defined by colonial powers. For four centuries, Rwanda was ruled by a Tutsi monarchy until the kingdom became part of German East Africa in 1894, later to be replaced by the Belgian territory of Ruanda-Ulundi. Throughout this time, the Tutsi retained their dominance of local politics until 1959, when Hutus gained control of the government, stripping many Tutsi of their land just before independence in 1962. A Tutsi-led insurrection in 1990 led to bitter civil strife, which culminated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, with an estimated 800,000 people being killed and 2 million fleeing to neighbouring countries. A new constitution was adopted in 1995, and many refugees have since returned, but the country is still healing the from devastating effects of the war and genocide. The country held its first multiparty elections in 2003.
Compassion’s ministry is focused on what we call holistic child development. This means developing children in all the different aspects of their lives—their minds, bodies and relationships—while giving them the opportunity to hear about and experience the love of Jesus from caring local church staff and volunteers.
How does sponsorship help kids?
Formal and non-formal educational opportunities Compassion assists children with their primary school education and gives opportunities to attend secondary school, as well as providing vocational training opportunities and extra-curricular activities such as sports, field trips, music and computer training.
Health care, hygiene training and supplementary food Kids get a healthy snack or meal when they attend program activities, receive regular health check-ups, and learn how to take care of their bodies and form healthy relationships.
The love and support of a local church and the opportunity to hear about Jesus
Because Compassion partners with local churches, children are connected to a local Christian community where they have the opportunity to hear the gospel from caring church staff and volunteers.
Personal attention, guidance and love Children are cared for and invested in by members of their own communities, who encourage them to discover their unique gifts, passions and abilities. Their sponsors also play an important role in this through their prayers and letters.
Is sponsorship still relevant during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis?
During the pandemic, we saw firsthand the impact of crises on children in poverty. We also saw how powerful sponsorship can be in equipping local churches to respond in specific, effective and life-changing ways. As we continue to see multifaceted crises impacting children around the world, we know that the need for sponsorship remains urgent. We are more confident than ever that your commitment to sponsorship truly allows children, families and communities to be deeply known, loved and protected through it all.
Why do you work with local churches?
Compassion works exclusively with local churches because they know the names and faces of the children in their community and can best understand and respond to their challenges. They are known and trusted by their neighbours and are able to reach those in the greatest need with compassion and through the love of God.
We equip our local church partners with the resources, training and expertise to help children escape poverty. Each church is empowered to implement the program in a way that meets the specific needs of the children they serve. In this way the physical, spiritual, emotional and relational needs for children are met as they are empowered to overcome poverty in all its forms.
Do kids need to be Christian to be in Compassion’s program?
Absolutely not! We encourage children and families of all faiths and backgrounds to register in our programs and would never require or coerce anyone to convert to Christianity.
At Compassion, we take financial stewardship seriously.
As certified members of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, Compassion Canada is committed to handling the finances entrusted to us with the utmost integrity. This year, 84.7 per cent of funds were used for program activities benefiting the children we serve, and 15.3 per cent for support services.
Today, children around the world are discovering that poverty doesn’t have to be their future. Help one more do the same by sponsoring with Compassion!
Lionel is in the process of getting sponsored by someone else.
While we're sorry you could not sponsor this specific child, we would love to help you find a different child to sponsor.
